I’m Adding Australia To My ‘Not To Be Missed’ Bucket List

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Judi

Since one of my favorite wines is the Yellow Tail brand from Australia and I do adore Australia’s popular Arnott’s Tim Tam biscuits, I jumped at the chance to attend a special luncheon this week in NYC put on by Tourism Australia. It was pouring rain in the city on Tuesday, so I was especially glad to step into the warmth of The Sunburnt Calf, a quaint Australian bistro on the upper westside (226 W. 79th St.) where we spent the afternoon tasting and hearing about the incredible food and wine culture in Australia.

In his new cookbook, Blood Sugar: The Family, Chef Michael Moore shares the way he manages being a diabetic with inspiring and creative recipes.

After listening to Michael Moore, one of Australia’s most experienced and respected chefs, talk about “why you should go to Australia,” I was immediately hooked. I went to Sydney for business several years ago, but now I want to go back to see the stunning landscapes, nature and welcoming people across all areas of the country. Adelaide, Melbourne, Victoria, Perth and even Tazmania – north, south, east, west – I want to tour them all during my life after 50.

“Why should you go to Australia?” Chef Michael asked the bloggers in the room? “You will have a spiritual connection with a spiritual end. You will be a richer person and a better person.” (All he had to say was spiritual and as a yogi I was hooked – Australia here I come…it’s on my ‘not to be missed’ bucket list .)

Chef Michael went on to describe the amazing food culture in Australia:

The luncheon menu included BBQ'd Barramundi, Rhubarb Gimlets, and Oysters 'Kilpatrick'

1. It’s about ‘attitude’ – being curious and eating authentically. (That’s me, I’m very curious. No wonder I liked the Oysters ‘Kilpatrick’ appetizers of tempura-fried oysters and pickled shallots with worcestershire-bacon butter.)

2. It’s about a certain ‘state of mind’ – Chef Michael said that buckets of beer and barbecues in the backyard are special moments for Australian folks. (Me too. Me too. I am getting relaxed just thinking about grilling burgers on my Weber grill. Is it summertime yet? I think it is summertime in Australia. The seasons are opposite ours in the U.S. that’s why Australia is a perfect vacation spot during the winter months when it’s cold here and warm down under. Speaking of ‘state of mind’, I’m still thinking about the Rhubarb Gimlets that we sampled – they went down pretty smoothly. They were made with rhubarb bitters.)

3. It’s about sophisticated taste, connectedness with farmers and growers and fishermen, and about discovery – Chef Michael said that many restaurants in Australia have a farm to table approach to their cooking with fresh ingredients. (Ooh, I was into discovering the delicious Australian flavors at the luncheon so I ordered BBQ’d Barramundi Fillet with Sea Scallops, Frisee Salad, New Potatoes and Anchovy Aioli. It was scrumptious – I ate it all.)

According to recent research, those who have been to Australia rated it #1 in terms of food and wine. I can definitely see why. Breakfast on Bondi Beach, Sydney Seafood School, The Longest Luncheon Table – all these events sound like so much fun.

I stopped by to see my kids at their jobs in NYC on my way home from the luncheon. “Next year we’ll have to go on a trip to Australia,” I said to my daughter A and my son D. “It’s on my ‘not to be missed’ bucket list.”

“Mom, we have to go to Paris, Provence, and the South of France first in honor of your retirement,” said my daughter A. “Count me in,” said my son D. Hopefully, I’ll have some dollars left after I buy all my lavender in Provence this summer. If not, I’ll have to start saving again for Australia. Meantime, I can always go back to The Sunburnt Calf for another meal. My daughter A says they have a great weekend brunch. Hope to see you there or maybe in Australia next year!

Judi

Staying Fit and Fabulous After 50

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Judi

In recognition of March National Nutrition Month, I asked my BFF and expert dietitian, Laura Sabban MS RD CSR, to provide her views on two diet books that came my way. The books are “The Digest Diet” and “The Digest Diet Cookbook” by Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Reader’s Digest and coauthor of the bestseller “Flat Belly Diet!” (Note that the PR lady did not send a copy of the “Flat Belly Diet!” which sounds interesting to me since I do not have a flat belly but would really like to know if it is possible to ever have a flat belly again – especially after having two children during my life before 50.)

So what did my BFF Laura have to say about staying fit and fabulous in our fifties? “Selling magazines and diet books making us think it is easy to shed pounds at this age is making people rich. But a lifetime of habit isn’t going to change without some effort and we need to be realistic about what it takes to be able to avoid those elastic-waist pants,” says Laura. (I know Laura, I don’t want to have to only rely on stretch pants as I age.)

In reviewing the books, Laura comments that “The Digest Diet” and its companion cookbook start out saying it will be easy to make huge lifestyle changes. “The author Liz promises that there are magic foods to eat that ‘release fat’, and that you won’t be miserable or hungry because the foods are so satisfying,” says Laura.

“Indeed the recipes are truly interesting and photographed in stunning color. However she promises that you’ll lose an average of 11 pounds in 3 weeks and that you can exercise at your own pace…as long as you follow the diet exactly, do high-intensity interval training (!!!), spend your Sunday afternoon cooking organic foods, give up dessert in favor of ricotta cheese and eat a salad when you (invariably) get hungry.”

(Really, I have to do all that? BTW, I did try the Strawberry Almond Shake during the BlogHer conference book event last summer and it was rather tasty. I sampled the shake made with frozen berries, flaxseed, avocado and cocoa powder. A typical shake includes 16 grams of protein. I also found the new cookbook recipes to be appealing and may try to make a few such as the Chicken Piccata with Capers & Olives and the Herb Crusted Salmon. )

“At 1200 calories a day, even with no magic foods, almost anyone can lose weight,” Laura adds. “The science presented isn’t always great but overall, the book does advocate a balanced, healthy approach to dieting and will work for the motivated. The 12 people who ‘tested’ the plan seemed to like it. But I think that boomer women don’t want to spend much time cooking anymore, won’t join a gym if they haven’t already and want to have dessert more than once a week.” (Hmm, hmm, hmm. Laura you are my BFF and I do agree that boomer girls don’t want to spend extra time in the kitchen, but I do know many boomer girls who like to work out at the gym including your BFF.)

Laura is my BFF and a very smart registered dietitian.

As a special guest blogger, Laura provided these simple tips to help boomer girls stay fit and fabulous:

- Firstly, eat three reasonable meals a day. Don’t go more than 5 hours without eating something. Yes, it has to do with insulin levels, but there’s no point in making it more complicated than that. (I agree – breakfast, lunch and dinner – I try not to miss a meal.)

- Second, eat vegetables and fresh fruit as often as you can. No one ever got fat from eating too much fruit. (I’m glad I love fruit – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, oranges, pears, grapes.)

- Thirdly, choose lower fat dairy products. We eat too much rich cheese on everything. (I really like the Sargento Reduced Fat Cheeses. You can buy slices or shredded varieties.)

- Fourthly, take a walk every day, weather permitting. Or find another way to keep moving that feels comfortable. It’s also a mood lifter. (Walking does it for me – oh where is that pedometer?)

- And lastly, every day reward yourself with something yummy of about 100 calories—1/2 oz. of chocolate, a small yogurt, a tablespoon of peanut butter on celery, or a snack bag of crackers or cookies. Sometimes just knowing a treat awaits you later makes it easier to hold out against indulging too much earlier in the day. (My treat of the day has to be dark chocolate – my boyfriend L has converted me – it’s the best.)

“Common sense may not be sexy, but it’s all one really needs,” adds Laura.

Now you see why Laura is my BFF? She is so smart!

If you would like to be entered into the raffle to win a copy of “The Digest Diet,” leave a comment on my blog about how you stay fit and fabulous during your life after 50. Or “like” Judi Boomer Girl on Facebook or “follow” judiboomergirl on Twitter and leave your comment there. Deadline for entry is March 31, 2013.

Judi

A Visit to ABC Kitchen

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Judi

“Where do you want to go for your graduation lunch?” I asked my son D a few months before his special day.

“I made reservations for 3:00 p.m. at ABC Kitchen,” said D, “It was voted best new restaurant of 2011 by the James Beard Foundation.”

“Wow-o-wow! I cannot wait to go,” I said with a big grin on my face.

ABC Kitchen is located at
35 E. 18th Street in NYC

And so it was, on a sunny day in May, a little over a week ago, after my son graduated from college, my son D, my daughter A and I enjoyed one of the best-ever celebratory luncheons at this award-winning restaurant. It was farm-to-table dining, casually elegant, with an artful design and exquisite locally sourced food and organically focused cuisine, just as the press release said.

“What are you going to order?” I asked D and A, as we sat down for lunch. We were all famished and hadn’t eaten since the early morning.

“Do you want a drink?” asked the waitress. “We have a wonderful rhubarb bellini and rhubarb martini.” I was sold and so were my table mates. Rhubarb is one of my favorites. I adore strawberry and rhubarb pie, rhubarb crumble and rhubarb compote, but had never tried a drink made with rhubarb. “Absolutely,” we all chimed in. A ordered the martini and D and I got a bellini. We raised our glasses and made a toast, “To D on his graduation day and to his ongoing career success.” Sip, sip – down they went.

We chose pretzel crusted calamari with marinara and mustard aioli as an appetizer. The calamari were hot and crispy and the tangy sauces were a nice complement for dipping.

Drumroll please, for our entrees. Ta da, ta da, ta da! All three were simply scrumptious:

I chose the spinach, goat cheese and herb pizza. The crust was thin and the spinach was delicate and flaky. Ooh it was so good, I ate it all. (I did share a slice or two with D and A. I was a nice mom.)

“How do you make this spinach taste so good,” I asked the waitress. “It’s the brick oven,” she replied. (I attempted to copy this pizza recipe this weekend. I bought goat cheese and fresh spinach and used some herbs that I had brought back from Italy. I spread the dough very thin, basted it with olive oil, sprinkled the fresh goat cheese and spinach over the crust and dotted it with herbs. Then I added a few more drops of olive oil over the top. The pizza turned out pretty good, not as good as ABC, since I don’t have a brick oven. We all agreed that next time I’ll load up on the spinach, since the leaves tend to shrink during baking.)

D selected the spice crusted monkfish, pea puree and carrot vinaigrette. It was so flavorful and the fish was tender. Ooh, aah, ooh, aah. We loved the fish.

A wanted a salad and decided on the crispy shrimp, romaine, market vegetables and carrot-sesame vinaigrette. The carrot-sesame dressing was so light and tasty, definitely wish they could bottle that dressing for home use. Or, maybe, ABC will decide to produce a cookbook one day, maybe, maybe.

Did we leave room for dessert? Did we? Did we? You guessed right. Of course, we did.

“What do you recommend for dessert?” we asked the waitress.

“You have to try the sundae. It is amazing,” she answered with a grin.

“We’ll share the sundae,” I said. “And since it is a special occasion, we’ll order the cookie plate with lemon drop, chocolate chip cookie, PB marshmallow bar & honey cheesecake bar, too. Two desserts. Yes, we’ll have two.”

Can you find the 3 scoops of ice cream?

OMG! OMG! OMG! Food coma was about to set in when they brought out the sundae. Listen to what was in this big bowl. I could not believe it was so large. There were three scoops of salted caramel ice cream. (One scoop for each of us, how nice ABC was to give us three scoops.) The ice cream was sitting on chocolate sauce and topped with candied peanuts, caramel popcorn and whipped cream. (Did you get all that, I said three scoops with peanuts, chocolate sauce and caramel popcorn. Do I need to repeat it again? This is definitely one to imitate at home. I would go back to ABC just for this dessert.)

Yes, we finished every last spoonful of the sundae. We left a few cookie morsels on the plate. I paid the bill. And we all agreed that ABC Kitchen is worth waiting on the waiting list for a table. It is truly one of the best…James Beard was right. Hope you’ll remember the first letters of the alphabet and pay ABC Kitchen a visit next time you are in NYC.

“Who is graduating next?” I asked A and D. “We’re done with school for a while mom,” they both quickly replied. “We’re done for now.”

“Well okay then, I’m so proud of you two kids. Yes, I’m very proud. But, we’ll have to go back for my birthday next year. And maybe since you are both working now, you’ll treat your mama to a nice birthday lunch at ABC Kitchen. Okay? I love you two so much. Okay? Do you know what day my birthday is? Should we make the reservations now? Soon? Okay? I love you two so much. As much as a three scoop salted caramel ice cream sundae with chocolate sauce, and candied peanuts and caramel popcorn and whipped cream. And that’s really big.”

Judi